Exhortation and Encouragement

My same typical day- almost. The power was out this morning. Should have chosen my clothes last night, but didn't. It was so much fun trying to search for an outfit to wear to school and another one to wear at the gym without any electricity. If you've never done so before, you're missing out. After getting dressed, i went and ate breakfast with my parents. It was nice seeing them. Even though we live in the same house, we don't see each other much. If i'm not gone, they usually are. Thankfully the excuse of the power being off was good for showing up late to my English class :-)

i figured i'd share something about what i did when i got out of class. I went to the gym and played racquet ball. I was there about 2 and 1/2 hours. Thankfully, this time around, breaks were allowed. I played partners and wasn't so bad at it this time around. Only a few people were hit, and it was usually me or me running into somebody to prevent being whacked by the ball. My team actually came close to winning and they were all pretty impressed with my new found skills.

Afterwards, i practiced serves while Scott (Director of Campus Crusade) and Joseph were sitting outside talking. The glass is sound proof, so what was said, they only know. Afterwards, Scott came in and played against me. I could mention how i won even though Scott scored about 45 and i scored 6. That silly little rule about next point wins... During the game, we stopped for a second to catch our breath. I was informed that i had somehow started playing really well. (they thought "somehow"... they didn't know i had the tennis player friend) Those mean cheap shots didn't always work on me anymore since i learned the concept of sprinting. Scott told me that he and Joseph were actually outside talking about me. He tried to be nice about it. Oh, what were the words he used? I'm thinking it went something like this "Joseph and i have noticed that you've been getting, how should i say it? 'Fit.' Joseph said not to say anything unless you brought it up, but since you haven't, i will. Keep up the good work..." i couldn't help but want to laugh. It's true. I've been at the gym every week day for the last couple weeks. i weigh less than i remember weighing in quite a while. i learned the concept of eating healthy and taking the scenic route everywhere on campus and surrounding.

I've been thinking about that short conversation all day. Especially since it started out with "Joseph said not to say anything." Why can't we ever be honest with each other? If you see someone is doing something good, no matter what it is, why talk about behind their back instead of just saying, "Hey, i've noticed you're..., Good job!" Hebrews 3:13 says, "But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." In case you didn't know, the first definition of exhort listed in the dictionary is "1. vt urge to do something: to urge somebody strongly and earnestly to do something" I think we all realize that we need to tell someone when they're doing something wrong, but we need to let them know when they're doing a good job as well. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." Encourage: "1. give somebody hope or courage to: to give somebody hope, confidence, or courage
2. be supportive of somebody: to urge somebody in a helpful way to do or be something" I'm not trying to take this stuff out of context and twist it to my purposes, i'm just saying that it can apply to more than one thing. We do need to exhort and encourage one another. Why the taboo on telling the truth to somebody?